Abies plant named &#39;Bernadine Gold&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Abies  cultivar named ‘Bernadine Gold’ is disclosed, characterized by its pale yellow new foliage and dark green foliage in the Fall. Plants have a distinctive weak curvature to the needles. The new cultivar is an  Abies,  typically suited for ornamental use.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Abies balsamea

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Bernadine Gold’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the result of a chance discovery in an existingpopulation of Abies balsamea plants used for commercial Christmas treeproduction. The new variety originated as a naturally occurring, wholeplant mutation of the unpatented parent variety, Abies balsamea. The newvariety was first observed by the inventor, Leo Hamel, a citizen ofCanada in 1988 in a stand of Abies balasamea under cultivation forproduction of commercial Christmas trees. This stand of trees wasoriginally planted in 1985, and is located in Sawyerville, QuebecCanada. All trees were maintained according to standard Christmas treeindustry conditions, including an annual shearing, and normal fertilizerrates.

After several years observing the unique pale yellow new growthconsistently on one tree, the inventor selected the new cultivar forasexual reproduction, and first propagated the new variety in late March2006. Propagation was by vegetative cuttings, grafted onto standardseedlings of Abies balsamea, performed at a commercial nursery inSainte-Christine, Quebec, Canada. ‘Bernadine Gold’ has since producedadditional generations and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type. An application forPlant Breeder's Rights was filed in Canada in May of 2008, and grantedin 2010. At the time of filing this U.S. plant patent application, April2011, plants have never been made commercially or publicly availableanywhere in the world, and have always been maintained in a restrictedenvironment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Bernadine Gold’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Bernadine Gold.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Bernadine Gold’ as a new and distinct Abiescultivar:

-   1. New growth emerges pale yellow, turning slowly green towards late    Summer.-   2. Dark green foliage in the Fall.-   3. Weak curvature to needles.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Bernadine Gold’ are similar to the parentAbies balsamea in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of‘Bernadine Gold’ differ in producing pale yellow new growth, turninggradually green towards late Summer. Additionally, ‘Bernadine Gold’ hasdarker green foliage in the Fall, than found on Abies balsamea, and aweak curvature to the needles, whereas Abies balsamea has either veryweak, or no curvature to the needles.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Bernadine Gold’ are best compared to theparent variety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Bernadine Gold’ grown inside an unheated hoop house inQuebec, Canada. This plant is approximately 4 years old, shown in a 3liter pot.

FIG. 2 shows a mature specimen of ‘Bernadine Gold’ grown outdoors inQuebec Canada. This specimen is approximately 25 years old. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Bernadine Gold’ plants grown outdoors inSainte-Christine, Quebec, Canada. Unless noted as values taken from amature plant, values are taken from a plant approximately 4 years old,grown in a 3 liter pot. The plant has been grafted onto a seedling ofAbies balsamea, and grown in a hoop house for the first 2 years.Temperatures in the hoop house ranged from 15° C. to 25° C. day. From 5°C. to 10° C. night. After the first 2 years in the greenhouse, plantshave been grown outdoors in Quebec, Canada. The mature specimen isapproximately 25 years old, grown outdoors in Quebec, Canada, givenstandard commercial Christmas tree production treatment, including anannual shearing. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments orchemical treatments were given to the plants. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Abies balsamea ‘Bernadine Gold’.-   Age of the plant described: Values are taken from a 4 years old    specimen, unless noted as a mature tree measurement.-   Container size of the plant described: 3 liter commercial container.-   Propagation: Plants are grafted, roots of new variety not observed.-   Plant:-   Growth habit: Tall pyramidal.-   Height: Mature trees are approximately 50-60′.-   Plant spread: Mature trees are approximately 20-30′.-   Overall plant shape: Conical.-   Growth rate: slow-medium.-   Trunk color: Near RHS Grey-Brown 199B.-   Trunk diameter: 60 cm, mature tree.-   Trunk texture: Smooth.-   Branching characteristics:-   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 1.5-2 cm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: from trunk approx. 4-8 branches per    foot of stem. On each branch 25+ branches connected.-   Texture of lateral branches: smooth.-   Color of lateral branches: Near RHS Brown N200B.-   Aspect and angle: Straight , occurring at approx. 15°- 45° from    stem.-   Strength of lateral branches: moderate.-   Internode length: Approximately 10-15 cm.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Leaf.—        -   Arrangement.—2 or more horizontal rows.        -   Individual needles.—        -   Average length.—Approximately 1.5-2 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2-3 mm.        -   Shape of blade.—flat narrow needle.        -   Apex.—slightly notched to pointed.        -   Base.—resembles small suction cup.        -   Attachment.—single.        -   Margin.—entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—smooth.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—1-2 mm.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow 2D Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow 4A Mature foliage upper            side: Near RHS Green 137C Mature foliage under side: Near            RHS Green 137C.        -   Venation.—Type: parallel Venation color: Indistinguishable            from foliage color.-   Reproductive organs:-   General description of visible parts: Not observed.-   Other characteristics:-   Cone description:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 5-10 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2-4 cm.        -   Shape.—cylindrical to conical.        -   Color.—Near RHS Grey-Brown N199B.-   Drought tolerance and temperature tolerance: Low temperature    tolerance to approximately −40° C. Tolerates high temperature to at    least 30° C. Moderate drought tolerance.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither extra resistance nor susceptibility    to the normal pests and diseases of Abies has been observed.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Abies balsamea plant named ‘BernadineGold’ as herein illustrated and described.